what travel taught me about street photography.
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- Опубліковано 3 сер 2024
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Don’t worry about the old Italian woman. I’m from Italy and I’ve photographed Venice I don’t know how many times, some locals can be quite aggressive with tourists (understandable to a point) and other are just simply difficult for no reason. Like I had a guy stand in front of me and tell me that I’m not allowed take pictures of the city, some people just have nothing better to do
The old lady yelling at you was me. I was telling you to switch to Fujfilm GFX.
Travel is so, so, so important! There is so much to learn from different cultures. I remember coming back from a month long trip to Western Europe and seeing my hometown again. It’s exactly as you said Faizal, you get to see it with new perspective and often a new appreciation.
Shooting the familiar can be the most challenging but also the most rewarding. I've always felt that the term "street photography" is a bit of a creative straitjacket and can prove to be rather stifling. It wasn't all that long ago that the term didn't even exist. We used to call it "documentary photography" or even "photo journalism", both of which are more open ended than "street photography". To be honest, I probably identify more with painting than most photography even though my tool is a camera!
I often feel the same here in Germany. When you're on the streets photographing from your artsy perspective, there is always this fear that someone will just snap at you - happened a few times. Great video again Faizal!
Germany is an extreme example when it comes to privacy, so that isn't surprising.
@@rkmh65 Meanwhile, the state tracks all and everything you do.
The same problem happened to me. I always felt somewhat guilty when photographing random people, even though I wasn't really photographing specific individuals. That's why I always try to maintain a "do not disturb" appearance and keep my distance. Great video!
I started using the 85mm for street. Being in Asia, you'll realize people are just very shy and will change behavior when they realize a camera is in the area. Definitely some people will even get quite confrontational when they feel like you're violating their privacy.
Can i just say how your videos just feel so complete, from your photography and short videos to the aesthetics and the subtle music in the background. "Perfect"
Thanks for sharing your ponderings and musings on the contrast of the home town vs what we see when we travel. Your videos are always a great pause in the day to just reflect on the topics that you share. I'm really grateful for that. 🙏
Loving both your insights and the composition of your video-shots. You're putting in a level of care into both that's rare on UA-cam.
As someone new to Boston and just starting their street photography journey, your videos inspire me on so many levels. Major respect to your writing and editing.
the writing/commentary of this video really stuck out for me, great work Faizal! I really admired how you structured your points and lessons in this video.
Wonderful content! Most of these resonated with me deeply as someone who used to rely on travelling to get over the "creative roadblocks". You have such a calming and respectful energy. Thank you for existing!
You did a great job in this reflection in which I also do recognise my own experiences of traveling over the past decade.
I've just watched three of your videos in a row. I feel so calm and inspired now. I'm sorry you felt out of sorts doing street photography while travelling. I think being respectful goes a long way, as does being discreet, but or a small reassuring smile and some honesty. Your work is beautiful, and speaks for itself
Couldn't agree more! I grew up in Glasgow, Scotland and a lot of my time there was spent wandering the same streets over and over, like you said - expecting something new/interesting. I moved to Manchester about 4 months ago now and it definitely was overwhelming at first, and felt that I was somewhat less creative at the beginning - however, feel that a lot of my time here has been spent just like it was in Glasgow, wandering the same streets over and over. I feel you put it perfectly - It definitely is more of a creative challenge than it is road block, or perhaps a re-direction to force/spark new creative ideas. Traveling is for sure one of my top priorities for the future!
- Thanks for all the great content, Faizal. I always come away learning something new about my own creative works and often relate to your takes on this art form. You're a real inspiration! 🫶💛
Was in Paris just after you were there and man, was it not what I expected. Truly thought it would be a breeze capturing images, with people the focus of my photography. Immediate shock to my approach lol. Had to practically switch my approach but it was a welcomed challenge because it trained my eye to shoot with a new perspective. For that I’m thankful. Travelling abroad definitely did that for me as well. Great video drop, Faizal!
Wow, very interesting to see so many people have the same experience visiting Paris! We can so easily just expect things to be similar to what we know when really it's not the case.
This was beautiful. My next video is going to be about street photography (Spain) and I noticed some of the things you said too... We can not forget we are photographing people, not objects.
FAIZEL, YOU are an honest man. Thank you for your work. Appreciated! Greetings and Love from....SCOTLAND!
Brilliant video and insight! I live in the suburbs of Boston and really enjoy taking a trip into the city. I decided this summer to stick to the surrounding towns and parks near me to force myself to find thing near by that perhaps I never thought would be a subject I normally shoot. It is funny when you mentioned the walking the same streets over and over again, I know that feeling all to well :) Thanks again for sharing your photographic journey!
The more I watch your videos for the photography, the more I love your cinematography.
I have started street photography when I was a student in Paris. Also, Paris is basically where the street photography was born. But unfortunately nowadays, due to laws and people's approach it become almost a crime to do street photography there. That's sad...
Not for me; i come to paris three times a year and do all the street photography want. Never had an issue.
That’s interesting, are there any specific laws that prohibit taking photos in public settings?
@@BernardGatt There theoretical law and then there's everyday life. If you act anxious and act like you have something to hide, sure you *might* get into some trouble. But in the 10+ years ive been shooting in Paris I never ever had problems. Act friendly, smile, have conversations. I've made so many good friends in the streets of Paris :)
@@user-ti9zc1xv2b 100% and occasionally keep looking into the view finder and take a couple of extra shots while the subject moves away :D
To me Paris feels very comfortable for Streetphotography. Taking more than 1000 shots of people, most directly in their face and always going for subjects. No issues, no problems. Just a lot of friendly smiling to my camera people.
As a fellow Bostonian, it's really nice to see my hometown through your ever-changing lens. Excited for more videos-- and hope to run into you while we're both out shooting this city!
beautiful piece, Thanks!
I found the creative roadblock to creative challenge to be such a valuable lesson. Great video and great photos.
Well done brotha man 🎉 had my attention the whole time in a respectful way
glad you enjoyed!
I really love your videos, the feel and vibes are really calm and artsy.
Would love to have the time to travel to different locations like that. I can really relate to what you said about walking the same streets again and again, i live in the southern parts of Sweden near Malmö. I have walked some of those streets many times. But like you said, it makes you a better photographer and observer.
Keep up the great work, and let me know if you travel to the southern parts of Sweden.
i love the new bleeding of light in your video work. really nice :)
Totally relate with this, photography in other countries are not the same as here in the US, I try to be as respectful as much as possible when photographing as well and you opened my eyes more with this video as I am back home and creating photos and videos and have a new light to my approach
really needed this video. thank you.
Hey thanks for all your wonderful videos 📸. They have inspired me to continue photography. It's really hard not to push myself to think that I will achieve artwork like other photographers. Your videos really help me understand that it's not the camera, but it's ME
So true. Another simple reason that you get better photos locally is you can catch the best of conditions and light. You will understand what will work much better. While we travel many times we are rushing and some of the best locations you see in average conditions.
Best video I’ve watched in months.
It's a normal thing, that travel sparks the inspiration. Unknown always is so much more appealing than same old streets we know through so well. Ofc, it's challenging as hell to spark this creative drive in not-so-appealing environment - but this is never ending case of grass being greener on the other side. At some point, if you will get used to travel too much - the spark there will fade away as well.
I've watched all of your travel videos & am going to Europe in July, starting in Paris ,ending in Barcelona . A lot of good information on when to take or not to take that shot. Have taken tons of Photos in Lisbon, Porto & a few other cities, but never classed them as street photography. Will give it another go soon.
Thanks! Such a beautiful video!
Beautifull! Thank you for this! Greetings from the Netherlands
Your storytelling through filmmaking are impressive
what a beautiful video fazial
An enjoyable watch. Thanks for the upload👍
ive based my college work around your photography and etiquette towards street photography time and time again this year and although i still struggle to photograph people for reasons like them shouting at me i still try and use the way you frame shots and how much you use black and white. i live in Manchester England and photographing it hasnt got challenging yet, i see it as a way to find every back street and road where i can make buildings topple over each other or make reflections contrast with the buildings that still stand, just a quick thank you i suppose.
The reason people are so up tight in Paris and France generally about photography is that legally when you take their photo, if they're recognizable it's their photo. It's a weird law but there's a reason there arent a ton of street photographers in Paris focusing on subjects who do public displays of their work.
Excellent video love the relaxed way you present.
Beautiful. 🖤
You should come to Vienna, aka the most unfriendly city in the world (according to studies) and do street photography 😅
I like your perspective that the city where you feel the most “stuck” is what’s helping you grow as a photographer. I def agree! Although I wouldn’t be mad at a photographer Airbnb exchange kind of network 😂
That would actually be pretty cool!
7:18 is a really nice shot and colour pallete! :)
It’s weird I never see other street photographers when I go out. The most important thing is to stay respectful, I found most people don’t really care or they may find what I’m doing pretty cool. As long as you don’t make it too obvious that you’re pointing the camera towards their face.
My wife is visiting her Aunt in Boston next Fri….I was Stationed in South Weymouth at the Naval Air Station….97-98…The Base is no longer, was converted to an elder living community…but the runways and abandoned air towers still stand…
What I find fascinating is how massively different laws as well as cultural perceptions are in different countries. Just as an example: in the USA, you legally have to worry about buildings in the background more than about people in the foreground. In Germany, it's exactly the other way around: buildings that can be seen from street level are no problem, but people are off-limits and they often act the part. As a result, street photography in Germany is basically not possible.
I could have watched a movie length version of this. Super interesting from beginning to end. :)
Man, how is all your content soooo good
❤️
Come to Bangkok where not only people don’t care you’re taking photos but ask to be included.
Love these videos Faisal. Thank you. I want to learn about the video side that you do so well. Are you using a GoPro?
Another brilliant video
thank you!!
Good Perspective
From the UK. I love this video. I've been to both Paris and Venice, never been to U.S. I really enjoyed Paris and would like to go back, Venice was a long time ago and I was only there for 24hrs and not really into street photography as much as I am now. Berlin is another city you should check out if you've never been,I didn't feel uncomfortable at all there.
Certain countries do have laws prohibiting certain street photography. There are a few books out there to help you navigate the laws. Ironically, France which is the birth of street photography does indeed have laws necessitating legal permission from strangers. Not that you will be called on it, but the locals are definitely aware of it and do have the right to summon the police.
Going to give you a heads up for the upcoming Lions Clubs International convention in Boston July 7 to 11th. The international parade will feature native costumes and colors from many nations. The parade is typically 3 hours long. It will start at 9 am July 8th. Should be some good photo ops.
I really enjoyed that, Faizal. I share a lot of your observations and challenges raised in this video. Looking forward to more of your excellent work and views.
Nice. Enjoyed that. … Grateful if you’d do a video on the sigma 18-50 f 2.8. I have an xt5 and am thinking about that lens as a possible all arounder for both stills and video. Thank you.
Haha now try going through this but in a suburb of a mid sized American city that isn't even walkable. It's very hard to get myself to go out to photograph especially after coming home from a trip to a nice city.
Boston is the best city for photography, with the interplay of the various architectural styles. In Europe I try to avoid the tourist area. Eg, I find East End of London far more interesting than West End. Also, I favor the side streets of Madrid over Barcelona. But my favorite places are in Central America, like Panama & Costa Rica. Thanks for your insight into this subject.
Can we have a video where you explain your color grading process? It looks stunning.
I am an Italian living in Japan, and I am what you may consider a street photographer. I also make videos on UA-cam, but I never show my face. It depends on how open you are to being online without consent. I would find it very annoying seeing my son in a stranger's video, for example. But I think that as long as you are respectful (and I think you are), people will understand and appreciate our/your creativity.
So I‘m from Vienna and been to Venice last weekend. I think it has to do a lot with your comfort level. To me being in Venice and shooting people there didn‘t bother me at all, because I felt comfortable being a European and having been to Venice multiple times. Don‘t get bothered by that old Italien lady, people here are sometimes used to being grumpy in public more than somewhere else!
Was this graded using Dehancer? So filmic with the halation and bloom!
I've been to Paris many times, and have done street photography almost every time. Last times was the summer of 2022. Your experience is totally different from mine. Noone noticed me, or stopped me while I was doing it. I wonder why 🤔
I remember carrying 5D in Chicago with 0 issues, but now I am back in Taiwan sometimes its just too socially unacceptable to pull out a camera.
We all have become so paranoid about others that we all question each other motives. Some might even assume you were "spying" on them, gathering secrets, etc, which is ridiculous of course, but that's the world we live in now.
Great video, and very well edited. If you don't mind me asking, as a graphic designer, what font is the "i was wrong" headline?
Thank you! The font is called Domaine Display
@@FaizalWestcott thanks a lot 🙏
Hai, thanks for the videos. I just got my first camera at age 47 after watching a few of your videos. Thanks very inspirational. 👍🏻
Well better late than never.😅
This video resonates with me. I just returned from 2 months to Morocco and EU. I returned with disappointing fotos because I was trying to adapt to the culture. The travel was still worth it, but I wonder if street photography is fading.
No it's not; 'street photographers' need to go grow a set...
@@user-ti9zc1xv2b Ha!
Please release this LUT 😭
what camera are you using for the video?
People in Venise are invaded by the tourists and they don't wanna see us close to them and their homes .. when I traveled there a few years ago, I loved the city but I made me a promise to not coming back because this city is suffocating because of us. Local people should be able to live in peace. That was my lesson :)
I see that you shoot with Leica for your photography, is it the same for the video footage? And thank you I always learn so much I appreciate your explanations and video
I don't shoot with a Leica, that was just video clips from when Leica lended me the Q3 for a bit when I was in Venice. I use a Fujifilm XT5 for video when I travel and a Sony A7IV when I'm back home
@@FaizalWestcott oh thank you i see
Hi man,I'm italian and I've been to Venice for the first time last year.
Don't worry about that old lady, every citizen of Venice hate tourists, because there are so many and they feel like they cannot live in thwir own city.
They really really hate tourists.
In every place they are so impolite, and they will try to overcharge for things all the time.
99% of yt videos about street photography: 'this video is sponsored by squarespace'. That's how you know that the content is highly regurgitated.
People such as the older woman in Venice, feel their privacy has been invaded, but the street photographer isn’t who they should be blaming… it’s modern culture.
what are the ratio for this clip?
I’ve been photographing Seattle the last six years, it’s funny though because I’ve lived here all my life and never had any interest in street photography before.
But I caught the bug after discovering Vivian Maier. All I can say is I try to keep moving, as the light changes & the people change with it. Although I can’t take some of the simpler shots anymore, I do find it more challenging and that’s good I think. 😝 🖖
not sure how much this tips will help u outside India but I have seen people not being bothered with my camera if I am wearing a half pant/shorts with funky sneacker(nonflashy ofc). If I somehow make them believe that I am a tourist then they don't care. But again not sure if this works outside India or not.
Have to be careful taking photos nowadays as people are becoming more sensitive because of fear of their privacy 'shown' in social media.
Paris was never an enjoyable place for me to take photos, always fear of someone jumping behind my back.
I can understand want you say about street photography in Paris but I cannot relate and I'll try to explain why. I am french and I live currently in Paris because I study there. And everyday I have my camera with me, I cannot go out without it, and I shoot things related to "street". And I never got any problems with people thinking I was taking their picture when I was not. And I think it's related (sadly) to confidence and parisian "rudeness" which is typically french. When you are a foreigner street photographer in Paris you are "just another tourist" and there are clues in the way you walk and move in the streets and use the public places which sounds not "local" (for instance the speed of your steps). And this leads people to notice and react to your presence more often.
But if you have like a strong confidence mask on your face showing that "you know what you do" then I noticed parisian people won't react and don't dare to say something to you. (Tourists maybe)
This is of course ridiculous because you can be a confident foreigner photographer or a shy french photographer but in Paris nowadays it's the confidence that matters. And I think it's mostly related to the growth of massive tourism in Paris which lead to this "rudeness paradox"
And finally in the french law street photography is allowed in public places but most people don't know it so you can argue with potential people bothering you that it's legal stuff.
Living in orlando, the tourist capital of the world, you are not interrupting anyone with your photography unless you as a tourist are purposely blocking the locals. Don't feel guilty at all you weren't doing anything wrong.
totally clickbait title. but a very nice video. thank you
It shouldn't be "click bait" but UA-cam has made everyone think only gear can make them a better photographer
Could you speak louder.
I’m hardly hearing your voices clearly because I’m not a native speaker.
But i do like your channel.
It gives me new ideas.
Thx
I'm sorry!! I'm kind of a soft spoken person. I think I actually talk a bit louder than I used to in my earlier videos if you can believe that 😅
In Europe we have an absurd kind of oppression. It's called GDPR. Sad story. Before the photo is taken, the subject's consent must be obtained by signing a four-page declaration. In theory street photography is a guerilla action here. Although I don't know if anyone has ever been convicted or if there has been less street photography becouse of this.
No it's not; GDPR does not apply to public spaces
@@user-ti9zc1xv2b It's all about public spaces. The difference lies in whether you are photographing an acquaintance or a stranger.
@@lazk I suggest you read again, but by the looks of it, you also seem to be the type of person that is scared of little insects
@@user-ti9zc1xv2b I've read enough on the subject and I don't care what I look like to you.
@@lazk Got it, keep obeying servant
Go to São Paulo
Couple of things I’ve picked up over the years. 1 - some people live in surveillance states / authoritarian dictatorships etc. someone walking around taking photos of people is not exactly normal or invited in those places. 2 - people from unique or indigenous cultures might not mind a photo if asked politely in a less touristic area, but in areas that are bombarded with tourists, the constant taking of their photos can make them feel like animals in a zoo. It becomes really disrespectful to them. Also, some cultures taking a photo plain and simple is disrespectful, especially of children, elderly etc. I feel like you should always be asking for permission especially around indigenous cultures as their beliefs maybe so different to our western perspectives where we just kind of do what we want. Those are just a couple of things I suppose I hope more travellers taking photos would understand in order to be respectful travellers / guests and citizens
You really do need to research places you visit abroad regarding the laws to taking street images. As someone has says it’s illegal to take images of people in Paris without consent. Other counties in Europe are far more accommodating. Its like taking images of indigenous Indians in Arizona and New Mexico - you don’t do it without consent as some believe that you are taking an i,age of their soul.
Hi 👋🏼 What program are you using to edit the color of your videos, maybe dehancer pro?
Hmm I think it's because you come across as a tourist. Not an artist. And in some places like Venice, locals are overwhelmed by tourists
Seriously, why on earth would you think more than two seconds about what the ol' lady says? Man up a bit and blow it off and carry on despite her. There are negative, snowflake, Karens EVERYWHERE. When in public, people have no right to get worked up over some dude snapping pics, regardless of the country you're in. You're young, wealthy, smart, don't be limited by being timid.
Being “less creative” in a new place, and “more creative” in a familiar place, becomes an interesting thinking point for me. I get a sense of overly-critical feelings from this video. (Seems like projection from me 🫡)
I don’t think that every photo taken is meant to be the most creative composition, the most out-of-the-box thinking imaginable. I also understand that’s not what you’re saying, and speak with hyperbole there. For those images that are proudly creative, that feel like there isn’t another photo in the world that has been shot the same way: They set themselves apart when they’re given context. When displayed with other images that may be simpler.
I believe that balance is where you will find contempt in your photographic journey. (At this point I think I’m talking to myself.) It’s important to appreciate the images that came quickly and naturally, just as much as the images that you worked a lifetime for, especially when looking at photography in terms of an art form. I think it’s important to have those moments of frustration in your hometown, where finding an interesting photo means looking in a way that you never have before. And I believe it’s equally important to have experiences traveling, shooting democratically and stumbling into hundreds of new images. Each process has it’s own beauty and purpose, that may be helpful in guiding the other.
Sending you love Faizal. I hope you get to enjoy the challenges of shooting in Boston in the near future, and that it will give you new skills to bring with you on your next adventure 🤠